Where We Stand

MainStream began as an organization dedicated to countering extremist voices in politics, and while we have expanded our scope beyond just church and state issues, we still stand as a counter to extremism. This is what MainStream stands for. Below are our position statements specific to issues.

Mission

Mission: The MainStream Coalition informs and engages individuals to advocate for good governance, quality public education, healthy communities and sustainable fiscal policy.

These four areas encompass the breadth of our mission:

Good Governance: MainStream asserts that the people of Kansas have the right to responsible, open, and honest government that serves every Kansan, encourages citizen engagement, and respects the right to representation.

Quality Public Education: MainStream affirms the right of every Kansan to an affordable, equitable, and excellent public education, from early childhood to post graduate opportunity, adequately funded by the state, that respects the professions that care for our children.

Healthy Communities: MainStream upholds the right of Kansans to health, safety, and peace of mind in their personal lives, in their civic communities, and in wider society. Healthy, supportive communities promote engagement, personal success, and a stronger economy.

Sustainable Fiscal Policy: MainStream affirms that, in order to provide services to the people, government must be funded by the people it serves. Revenue and spending policies must treat every Kansan equitably, must be sustainable, and must adequately support government’s duties, be it at the state, county, or municipal level.

2018 Position Statements

During the 2018 Kansas Legislative Session, these are the positions we have taken on specific issues our legislators are, or should be, debating.

Revenue Reform: Tax reform measures passed in 2017 did not restore all of the revenue lost to the Brownback Administration’s disastrous tax policies. Kansas revenues are still inadequate to meet its obligations to Kansans to support education, infrastructure, and the social and health care safety net. The MainStream Coalition urges lawmakers to continue the hard work of raising the necessary revenue while maintaining sustainable fiscal policies.

Public Education Finance: The MainStream Coalition asserts that access to excellent, equitable public education, from early childhood to post-graduate career, is a right. Fully funding this education is a responsibility of government. Quality public education has proven to enhance economic success and health outcomes for students. The Kansas Supreme Court has repeatedly found the state to be underfunding public education, and this must stop.

Health Care: The MainStream Coalition asserts the responsibility of government to take care of its people, especially the most vulnerable, seniors, children, those who do not have the means to care for themselves or their families, and those who cannot care for themselves. Access to affordable, excellent health care wherever you live is a right that should not be denied to anyone.

Guns: The MainStream Coalition supports the Second Amendment, but affirms that the right to bear arms does not extend to endangering the public. We believe in prohibiting the purchase or possession of assault weapons by the public. We strongly support local control over other firearms and weapons-related ordinances and regulations, and believe those regulations should require responsible and safe gun ownership.

Transparency: The MainStream Coalition affirms the crucial importance of open and transparent government in responsible representation. Voters have the right to know what their elected officials do, and why. The political process is complex and requires compromises that can be difficult to explain, but hiding that process from the public does a disservice to Kansans.

Voting Rights: The MainStream Coalition strongly defends the right of every citizen to vote. To protect that right, we support efforts to make voting simpler, more accessible, and more secure. We support eliminating proof of citizenship requirements, enhancing access to advance ballots, and expanding the window for voter registration.

Women’s Health: The MainStream Coalition believes women have a right to access healthcare without discrimination and have always supported a woman's right to make her own decisions about her reproductive health. We reject the divisive rhetoric of "pro-abortion" labels and support data-driven efforts to reduce abortion rates by improving access to comprehensive sex education as well as affordable family planning.